Detergent composition

Abstract

Liquid detergent composition comprising greater than 5% anionic surfactant, less than 15% nonionic surfactant, a light-sensitive ingredient and an inorganic pearlescent agent.

1. A pearlescent liquid detergent composition having a turbidity less than 3000 NTU comprising: greater than about 5% of an anionic surfactant, less than about 25% of a nonionic surfactant, a light-sensitive ingredient, a perfume microcapsule comprising a capsule made of materials selected from the group consisting of urea and formaldehyde, melamine and formaldehyde, phenol and formaldehyde, gelatine, polyurethane, polyamides, cellulose ethers, cellulose esters, polymethacrylate, and mixtures thereof, a pearlescent agent comprising an organic pearlescent agent having a refractive index more than about 1.41 and an inorganic pearlescent agent having a refractive index more than about 1.41, wherein the difference between refractive indices of said organic and inorganic pearlescent agents and said composition is at least about 0.02 and from 1% to 5% of a co-crystallizing agent. 
     
     
       2. The pearlescent liquid detergent composition according to  claim 1  wherein the anionic surfactant comprises: a linear or branched C12-C20 alkyl sulfate, an alkyl alkoxy sulfate; and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       3. The pearlescent liquid detergent composition according to  claim 1  comprising less than 15% of said nonionic surfactant. 
     
     
       4. The pearlescent liquid detergent composition according to  claim 1  wherein the light-sensitive ingredient is selected from the group consisting of: an amylase enzyme, a protease enzyme, a carbohydrase enzyme, a lipase enzyme, a colouring agent a perfume and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       5. The pearlescent liquid detergent composition according to  claim 1  wherein the light sensitive ingredient is selected from the group consisting of enzymes, dyes, vitamins, perfumes and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       6. The pearlescent liquid detergent composition according to  claim 1  wherein the pearlescent agent is selected from the group consisting of: a mica, a metal oxide coated mica, a bismuth oxy chloride coated mica, a bismuth oxychloride, glass, a metal oxide coated glass, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       7. The pearlescent liquid detergent composition according to  claim 1  wherein the pearlescent agent is selected from the group consisting of: a mica, a titanium oxide coated mica, an iron oxide coated mica, a bismuth oxy chloride, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       8. The pearlescent liquid detergent composition according to  claim 1  wherein the pearlescent agent is present at a level of from 0.02% to 0.2% by weight of the composition. 
     
     
       9. The pearlescent liquid detergent composition according to  claim 1  wherein the pearlescent agent has an average particle size of from 0.1 μm to 50 μm. 
     
     
       10. The pearlescent liquid detergent composition according to  claim 1  wherein the pearlescent agent has a platelet or spherical geometry. 
     
     
       11. The pearlescent liquid detergent composition according to  claim 1  wherein the composition has a viscosity of from about 1 mPa*s at 20 s−1 and 20° C. to about 1500 mPa*s at 20 s−1 and 20° C. 
     
     
       12. The pearlescent liquid detergent composition according to  claim 1  wherein the difference in refractive index (ΔN) of the medium in which the pearlescent agent is suspended and the pearlescent agent is at least about 0.2. 
     
     
       13. The pearlescent liquid detergent composition according to  claim 12  wherein the composition has a turbidity of greater than about 5 NTU and less than about 3000 NTU. 
     
     
       14. The pearlescent liquid detergent composition according to  claim 1  additionally comprising a viscosity modifier; and wherein the pearlescent liquid detergent composition comprises shear thinning characteristics comprising: a high shear viscosity at 20 sec−1 at 21° C. of from about 1 cps to about 1500 cps; and a low shear viscosity at 0.05 sec−1 at 21° C. of greater than about 5000 cps. 
     
     
       15. The pearlescent liquid detergent composition according to  claim 1  additionally comprising a laundry care benefit agent selected from the group consisting of: cationic surfactants, silicones, polyolefin waxes, latexes, oily sugar derivatives, cationic polysaccharides, polyurethanes, and mixtures thereof, 
     
     
       16. The pearlescent liquid detergent composition according to  claim 1  wherein said composition is enveloped within a water-soluble film. 
     
     
       17. The pearlescent liquid detergent composition according to  claim 1  wherein said composition is packaged in a transparent or translucent outer packaging. 
     
     
       18. A method of laundering fabrics with the pearlescent liquid detergent composition according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       19. A method of improving the stability of light-sensitive ingredients in a pearlescent liquid detergent composition having a turbidity less than 3000 NTU comprising the step of adding a pearlescent agent comprising an organic pearlescent agent having a refractive index more than about 1.41, and an inorganic pearlescent agent, having a refractive index more than about 1.4.1, wherein the difference between refractive indices Of said organic and inorganic pearlescent agents and said composition is at least about 0.02, and from 1% to 5% era co-crystallizing agent to the liquid detergent composition. 
     
     
       20. The pearlescent liquid detergent composition according to  claim 1  wherein the co-crystallizing agent is selected from the group consisting of C12-C20 fatty acid, C12-C20 fatty alcohol, and mixtures thereof, at a weight ratio of the organic pearlescent agent to the co-crystallizing agent from about 3:1 to about 10:1.